Uprooted Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next.

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Friday, 22 July 2016

Wahhabi Saudi Arabia and the Disappearing of Islam’s Heritage

Catherine ShakdamActually it is not so much Saudi Arabia as a political construct which should worry you, but rather the faith it has leaned on to draw legitimacy from: Wahhabism.

Born in the desert of Nejd in the 18th century – an unwelcoming stretch of land which for centuries has echoed from the war cries of looters and tribal warlords, Wahhabism came into the world courtesy of one self-professed Islamic erudite: Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab. A follower of Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Abdul-Wahhad imagined himself a religious authority so grand that only his teachings could be deemed worthy – a sanctity onto Islam, the one school of thought to surpass all others, and in shame bind them!

Or so he claimed …or so he made others believe!

An ascetic, violent and reactionary faith, Wahhabism is not just anchored in bloodshed, it has been weaved around hate, bred on exclusion, and grown on ignorant bigotry.

If ever there was an antithesis of Islam, Wahhabism would most certainly qualify to that title.

But enough already on this individual … although we have to admit that it is his poisonous thoughts which continue to darken our skies, by allowing powers to wage “holy wars”.

But that you may argue is an Islamic problem, and it has little to do with the rest of the world.

I beg to differ! Radicalism, and most specifically Wahhabism is all our problem.

Why? Because Wahhabism is not playing out in a far, far away land, it is quite literally being featured at a cinema near you. You might not see it yet, you might not be aware that it is there yet, but Wahhabism is most definitely attempting to break into Society’ subconscious – a well-rehearsed doctrine.

You might know Wahhabism under a different name – that of radicalism.

It is at this point in my article that I will ask you to review your definition of radicalism and learn to call this abomination by its real name: Wahhabism.

How can a faith which seeks to annihilate millions of Muslims on account of their allegiance to the House of the Prophet (AhlulBayt) claims itself Islamic?

How can a faith which has purposely disappeared Islamic history and the world religious heritage ever pretend to hold Islam’s true banner?

Let’s play a little game of “did you know?”

Did you know that al-Saud monarchs have sponsored, promoted and aided the destruction of over 7000 historical landmarks to assuage their religious self-righteousness?

Did you know that those who long ago proclaimed themselves the Custodian of the two holy mosques: Medina and Mecca, have persecuted Shia Muslims because they pledged their allegiance to the very man the prophet Muhammad presented as his Custodian? For centuries Wahhabis have branded Shia Islam an apostasy because it dared hold the First Imam of Islam the true Guardian of the Words, only to claim such title for themselves, and say it is right and fair.

Did you know that Wahhabism, Saudi Arabia’s official state religion, inspired Terror’s armies?

Did you know that the Terror which has claimed all of our sons and daughters, reigns king over the Hijaz (formerly known as Saudi Arabia)?

Did you know that America’s special friend stands the financial and ideological backbone of this cancer we call Daesh?

Did you really not know?

Did you really not see the parallels in between the Black Flag Army and Riyadh officials when you witnessed with what eagerness both wielded their blades? Do you not remember January 2016, when 47 men were brought out to be murdered, and in the king’s name butchered?

The Baqee Organization remembered! It did more than that actually …

For almost a decade the Baqee Organization has spoken up against Wahhabism in preservation of the world Islamic heritage, in defense of our memory, in protection of our future.

If we all share in our differences, we cannot possibly claim to any future without a recollection of our past – not if the future is to be truly ours to own.

Origins of Jannat Al-Baqi Cemetery

Every year on the anniversary of the destruction of al-Baqee cemetery, where Islam’s most illustrious names are buried, the Baqee Organization has taken to Washington DC to demand reparation, to argue accountability, and to call on the world to recognize the agony of a life spent in the shadow of the House of Saud.

Beyond a simple case of religious oppression, al-Saud royals have overseen the destruction of most of Mecca’s 1000-year-old historical landmarks, single-handedly redacting History to claim a truth which is a fabrication.

“Failure to protect them [holy sites] from destruction is the biggest tragedy for the Islamic architectural heritage. The Saudi royal family claims to be guardians of the holy places of Islam, and profit hugely from the centuries by visiting believers to Mecca and Medina for pilgrimage. And yet, they are party to this barbaric desecration of the holiest sites in the Islamic world.”

Thus said the Baqee Organization, before adding:

“Today, the religious zealots in Saudi Arabia are not alone. Commercial developers such as Bin Laden Group have joined hands with them and are making hundreds of millions in profits as they build ugly, but lucrative high-rises that are shadowing the Grand Mosque known as the Ka’aba. Today Saudi petrodollars have the ability to silence even its most vocal critics, but when all is said and done, history will render a harsh judgment on those who try to wipe out its footprints and steal the heritage of all humanity.”

Al Saud and Wahhabism share a long tradition of cultural genocide.

In 1801 al-Saud legions, known then as the Ikhwan (the Brothers) waged a ferocious military campaign against the holy city of Karbala, where Imam Hussain’s tomb, the grandson of the prophet of Islam, was erected to forever speak of his glorious legacy.

For us today such cultural cannibalism inspired the Taliban to tear down the Gautama Buddha statues in Afghanistan, Daesh to explode the Temple of Palmyra in Syria, and Daesh again to sully the Tomb of the Prophet Jonah in Iraq.